1. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
Dr. Nawsherwan sadiq
2012-2013

2. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
As the knowledge of new blood group system increased.
Pioneer blood bankers mixed the patient’s serum and the
donor’s red cells and observed for direct red blood cells
lysis, agglutination, or both. This became known as the
major cross-match test.
The term compatibility test and cross-match are some
times used interchangeably, they should be clearly
differentiated.

3. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
The cross-match became part of a series of pre-
transfusion test known as compatibility testing. The
compatibility test includes an ABO and Rh grouping
performed on the donor and recipient samples, screening
of the donor’s and patient’s sera for unexpected
antibodies, and a cross-match.
The purpose of pre-transfusion or compatibility testing is
to ensure the best possible results of a blood transfusion.
The transfused red cells will have an acceptable survival
rate, and there will be no significant destruction of the
recipient’s own red cells.

4. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
Collection and Preparation of Samples.
The major cause of transfusion associated fatalities have
been clerical errors resulting in incorrect ABO grouping
The most common cause of clerical errors and thus
transfusion accidents is misidentification of the
patient involved in the transfusion.
Confusion in identification of the patient when the blood
sample was drawn a mixed up samples during handling
in the lab, and error in identification of the patient when
the transfusion was given.

5. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
To prevent collection of samples from the wrong patient,
the blood request form must be used to confirm the
patient’s identity before phlebotomy is performed.
The request form must state the intended recipient’s full
name, and unique hospital identification number.
Other information such as age and date of birth, address,
sex, and name of requesting physician can be used to
verify patient identity further but is not required on the
form.

6. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
The patient’s wrist band identification ( if available )
must always be compared with the requisition form.
If the patient does not have a wristband or if the patient’s
identity is unknown, some form of positive identification
must be attached to the patient before collection of
samples.

7. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
Collecting Patient Samples
Hemolyzed samples can not be used for testing
because hemolysis caused by activation of complement
Serum or plasma may be used for pre-transfusion testing.
Most blood bank technologist prefer serum because plasma
may cause small fibrin clots to form which may difficult to
distinguish from true agglutination.

8. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
When a specimen is received in the lab, a blood bank
technologist must confirm that the information on the
sample and requisition form agree.
All discrepancies must be resolved before the sample is
accepted, and if any doubt exists, a new sample must be
drawn.

9. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
Donor Samples.
Donor testing samples must be taken when the full donor
unit is drawn. Depending on the method used for testing,
clotted sample, anti-coagulated samples, or both, are
obtained.
Donor information and medical history card, the pilot
samples for processing, and the collection bag must all
be labeled with the same unique number code before
starting the phlebotomy, and the numbers must be
verified again immediately after filling.

10. COMPATIBILITY TESTING
Donor and recipient samples must be stored for a
minimum of 7 days following transfusion.
The samples should be stoppered and refrigerated at 1-
6 C, carefully labeled, and adequate in volume so that
they can be re-evaluated if the patient experiences an
adverse response to the transfusion.

11. Compatibility Testing Protocols.
Selection of Appropriate Donor Units.
In almost all cases, blood and blood components of the
patient’s own ABO and Rh group should be selected for
transfusion.
When blood and blood components of the patient’s type
are unavailable or when some other reason precludes
their use, units selected must lack any Ag against which
the patient has a significant Ab.

12. Selection of Appropriate Donor Units.
When transfusion of an ABO group different from the
recipient must be given, packed red cells must be used
rather than whole blood which contains plasma Abs that
are incompatible with the patient’s red blood cells.
Group O packed red blood cells can be safely used for all
patients, however, conservation of a limited supply of
group O blood should dictate its use for patients of other
AB types only in special circumstances.

13. If ABO-specificblood is not available or is in less
than adequate supply, alternative blood groups
are chosen as summarized in the following table;
Patient ‘s BG Alternative BG given as
packed cells
O NONE
A O
B O
AB A, B, O
only one of the three should be used for a given
patient

14. Selection of Appropriate Donor Units.
Rh-negative blood can be given to Rh-positive
patients, however, good inventory management
again should conserve this limited resource for
use in Rh-neg recipients.
If Rh-neg units is near expiration, the unit
should be given rather than wasted.

15. Selection of Appropriate Donor Units.
Rh-pos blood should not be given to Rh-neg
women of childbearing age.
Transfusion of Rh-neg male patients and female
patients beyond menopause with Rh-pos blood
is acceptable as long as no performed anti-D is
demonstrable in the sera.

16. Compatibility Testing Protocols.
Testing of the donor sample.
According to the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) and
the American Association of BB (AABB) standards,
ABO and Rh grouping (including a test for weak D) and
tests intended to prevent disease transmission must be
performed on a sample of blood taken at the time of
collection of the unit of blood from the donor.
A screening test for unexpected antibodies to red blood
cell Ags is required by AABB standards on samples from
donors revealing a history of prior transfusion or
pregnancy.

17. Testing of the donor sample
The transfusing facility is required by AABB standards to
confirm the ABO cell grouping on all units and Rh
grouping on units labeled Rh-neg.
Tests for weak D (Du) are not required to be reported.
The transfusion facility does not need to repeat any other
testing procedure.

18. Testing of the patient sample.
A record of all results obtained in testing patient samples must be
maintained.
Identification number should be assigned each time a patient is
admitted for treatment.
Any discrepancies between previous and current results must be
resolved before transfusion is initiated.
A new sample should be collected from the patient, if necessary to
resolve the problem.
ABO and Rh grouping results should be included in the file.
Also, notations concerning unusual serologic reactions and the
identity of unexpected Abs in the patient’s serum should be
included.

19. Testing of the patient sample.
ABO and Rh grouping and Ab screening of the patient’s
serum can be performed in advance of or at the same
time as the cross-match.
If the patient has had a transfusion or has been pregnant
within the last 3 months or if the history is unavailable or
uncertain, the sample must be obtained from the patient
within 3 days of scheduled transfusion.

20. Testing of the patient sample.
ABO Grouping.
Determination of the patient’s correct ABO group is the
most critical pre-transfusion serologic test.
If the cell and serum grouping results do not agree,
additional testing must be conducted to resolve the
discrepancy.
If the patient’s ABO group cannot be satisfactory
determined and immediate transfusion is essential,
group O packed red blood cells should be used.

21. Testing of the patient sample.
Rh Grouping.
Rh grouping is performed using anti-D blood grouping
serum. Tube or slide tests should be performed
according to the manufacture’s directions for the
reagent, which may or may not include the use of a
suitable diluents control.
Control must be run in parallel with Rh grouping tests
performed on patient’s samples, to avoid incorrect
designation of Rh neg, patient as Rh positive.

22. Testing of the patient sample.
Direct antiglobulin test (DAT) should be performed on
the patient’s red blood cells to determine whether uptake
of autoantibody, (alloantibodies, if the patient’s has been
recently transfused) is responsible for the positive
control result.

23. Testing of the patient sample.
If the Rh group of the recipient can not be determined
and transfusion is essential, Rh negative blood should be
given.
The test for Du is unnecessary when testing transfusion
recipients. Individuals typing as Rh neg in direct testing
should receive Rh-neg blood and those typing as Rh pos
in direct testing should receive Rh pos blood.
As Du are considered Rh pos and may receive Rh pos
blood during transfusion.

24. Testing of the patient sample.
Antibody Screening.
The patient’s serum or plasma must be tested for
unexpected Abs.
The aim of the Ab screening test is to detect as many
clinically significant Abs as possible.
Clinically significant Abs refers to Abs that are reactive at
37 C or in the DAT or both and are known to have
caused a transfusion reaction or unacceptably short
survival of the transfused red blood cells.

25. Testing of the patient sample.
Abs Regarded as always being potentially clinically
significant
ABO Rh Kell Duffy Kidd S s U
Abs that may sometime be clinically Significant
Lea p Lua Lub Cartwright.
Abs that rarely, if ever, are clinically significant
Leb Chido/Rodgers (Cha/Rha) York, Sd Xg& Bg

26. Testing of the patient sample.
Correct ABO grouping results are much more critical to
transfusion safety than Ab screening.
Most Abs, other than anti-A and anti-B do not cause
severe hemolytic transfusion reactions. Thus the vast
majority of patients would not suffer grave consequences
if transfused with blood from ABO group compatible
donor without the benefit of Ab screening tests.

27. Testing of the patient sample.
Detection of unexpected Abs is important, however, for
the selection of donor red blood cells that are likely to
survive maximally in the patient circulation.
Weakly reactive Abs that are capable of reacting with
their Ags at 37 C can cause decreased survival of
transfused incompatible red cells.

28. Testing of the patient sample.
Because large numbers of Ab molecules are present in
the patient’s circulation compared with the number of
red cells in a unit of blood, incompatible donor cells are
highly vulnerable to destruction by patient Abs.
Abs screening offers several advantages over direct
cross-matched testing for detection of Abs;
1- Testing is performed using selected group O red cells
that are known to carry optimal representation of
important blood group Ags.

29. Testing of the patient sample.
2- Testing can be performed well in advance of the
anticipated transfusion, allowing ample time for
identification of unexpected Ab and location of suitable
donor units lacking the corresponding Ag.
Methods used to detect Abs in patient’s sera must
demonstrate all significant coating, hemolyzing, and
agglutinating Abs active at 3 7 C.

30. Cross-match
The two main functions of the cross-match test can be
cited as,
I- It is a final check of ABO compatibility between donor
and patient.
2- It may detect the presence of an Ab in the patient’s
serum that will react with Ags on the donor RBCs but
that was not detected in the Ab screening because the
corresponding Ag was lacking from the screening cell.

31. Cross-match
Major and Minor cross-match tests
Major cross-match test, consisting of mixing the patient’s
serum with donor RBCs.
Minor cross-match test, consisting of mixing the donor’s
plasma with patient’s RBCs
The minor cross-match test has been completely
eliminated in most blood banks, because donor samples
are screened beforehand for the more common Abs.

32. Cross-match
Method for major cross-match tests.
Cross-match methods can be categorized by the test
phase in which the procedure ends.
Immediate spin (IS) cross-match (Abbreviated
Cross-match)
When no clinically significant Abs are detected nor are
there previous record of such Abs, a serologic test to
detect ABO incompatibility is sufficient.

33. Cross-match
In IS (the patient’s serum with donor cell are centrifuge
immediately) absence of hemolysis or agglutination
indicates compatibility.
False reaction may be seen in the presence of other IS
reaction (auto -I). In patient with hyperimmune ABO
Abs, when the procedure is not performed correctly
(delayed in centrifugation or reading) when rouleauex is
observed, or when infant’s specimens are tested.

34. Cross-match
Antiglobulin Cross-match
The procedure begin in the same manner as the IS cross-
match, continues to 37 C incubation and finishes with
AHG test.

36. SUMMARY
PRE TRANSFUSION TESTING
Is to provide safe, compatible blood for transfusion to
each individual patient. The steps necessary for safe
transfusion are:
1. Accurate ABO and Rh typing of the patient.
2. Accurate ABO and Rh typing of the donor.
3. Screening tests for antibodies in the donors and
patients serum.
4. In the presence of patient antibodies, selection of
appropriate units for each patient.
5. Compatibility Testing - (Major)
6. Accurate completion of paperwork and labels

37. PRE TRANSFUSION TESTING
Compatibility Testing
Each compatibility test is a unique experiment in which
an unknown (patient) serum and (donor) red cells are
tested for the detection of unexpected antibodies which
are directed against antigens found on the cells. Negative
results indicate compatibility. This is one of the most
important tests performed by a transfusion service.

38. PRE TRANSFUSION TESTING
The purposes of compatibility testing are:
1. To detect irregular antibodies in the recipient serum
that are directed against the donor’s cells.
2. To detect errors in ABO grouping.
3. To detect errors in labeling, recording, or identifying
donor’s or recipient’s samples.

39. PRE TRANSFUSION TESTING
Compatibility testing does not:
1. Ensure normal survival of donor red cells.
Prove that donor and or recipient serum is free of
antibodies. Prevent immunization of the recipient.
Detect ALL ABO typing errors.
Detect errors in Rh typing of either recipient or donor
unless the recipient’s serum contains an Rh antibody.
Detect ALL error of identification.
Pre-transfusion testing of the recipient must include an
ABO and Rh typing, antibody screen, and a cross-match
with all donor units.

41. Patient red cell with –D Ag.

42. If Rh –ve do